Belgium’s football governing body has renewed its demand for answers from FIFA over the decision that allowed Folarin Balogun to play against Belgium at the 2026 World Cup despite receiving a one-match suspension.
The Royal Belgian Football Association (RBFA) wants the matter placed on the agenda of the next FIFA Council meeting on October 15, saying questions it raised about the decision remain unanswered two months later.
Balogun had been shown a straight red card in his previous match, which ordinarily meant he would miss the next game. However, FIFA suspended the one-match ban for a year, clearing the US forward to feature against Belgium in the last-16 clash.
The decision attracted criticism, particularly after reports emerged that US President Donald Trump and White House officials had lobbied FIFA over the matter. UEFA and the RBFA also questioned the decision and called for greater clarity over how it was reached.
Balogun, who had scored three goals before the Belgium match, started as the United States defeated Belgium 4-1. Belgium later exited the tournament after losing to Spain in the quarter-finals.
RBFA president Pascale van Damme said the association had sought a clear explanation from FIFA and wanted to know how similar cases would be handled in the future.
She said the issue was ultimately about transparency, consistency and confidence in football’s governing structures.
FIFA had previously cited Article 27 of its Disciplinary Code, which allows the governing body to fully or partially suspend the implementation of a disciplinary measure. However, it did not provide a detailed public explanation for why Balogun’s suspension was lifted.
The decision was particularly unusual because Balogun’s red card was the 189th in World Cup history and only the second, after Brazil legend Garrincha’s dismissal in 1962, in which the player did not serve a suspension. No other suspension was lifted during the 2026 World Cup.
The controversy has now spilled into the wider FIFA leadership debate. The RBFA says it will not support Gianni Infantino’s bid for another term as FIFA president, citing the Balogun case and the abandoned FIFA Forward Enterprise plan that sought to sell stakes in FIFA competitions, including the World Cup, to private investment firms.
Infantino, who has led FIFA since 2016, has confirmed that he will seek re-election.
The RBFA says it remains committed to working with UEFA, other confederations and national associations to promote stronger governance and clearer decision-making processes.
For Belgium, however, the Balogun controversy is not closed. The association wants FIFA to explain what happened — and what will change to ensure similar decisions are handled consistently in the future.
